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What are the differences between vertical asymptotes and holes?
Vertical Asymptotes: Occur when the denominator is zero, and the numerator is non-zero. Function approaches infinity. | Holes: Occur when both numerator and denominator are zero. Represent removable discontinuities.
Define a vertical asymptote.
A vertical line that the graph of a function approaches but never touches, where the function's value goes to infinity (or negative infinity).
What is a rational function?
A function of the form , where and are polynomial functions.
Define the multiplicity of a zero.
The number of times its corresponding factor appears in the polynomial.
What is a 'hole' in a rational function?
A point where both the numerator and denominator of a rational function are zero. It is a removable discontinuity.
How do you find vertical asymptotes of a rational function?
- Factor the numerator and denominator. 2. Identify zeros of the denominator. 3. Check if those zeros are also zeros of the numerator. 4. If a zero is only in the denominator, there's a vertical asymptote there.
How do you determine the behavior of a function near a vertical asymptote?
- Find the vertical asymptote. 2. Evaluate the one-sided limits as approaches the asymptote from the left and right. 3. Determine if the function approaches or from each side.
How do you determine if a rational function has holes?
- Factor the numerator and denominator. 2. If a factor cancels out from both, there is a hole at the x-value that makes that factor zero.
Given , find the vertical asymptote(s).
- Factor: . 2. Simplify: . 3. Vertical asymptote: .